Overview & Reviews

At its debut, the Ford Fusion was nothing less than a landmark car for the company. With the Fusion, Ford once again had a strong midsize sedan contender, something it hadn't fielded since the first-generation Taurus that debuted back in the mid-1980s. Savvy consumers have taken notice of the Fusion's spacious cabin, responsive driving dynamics, solid build quality and attractive styling.

In addition to its family-friendly features, the newest Ford Fusion provides a sporty, involving drive -- a rare quality in this segment and one that most folks can appreciate. Although we've been understandably even more impressed by the most recent generation, any Fusion should be an attractive choice for anybody wanting a comfortable, well-equipped family hauler.

Current Ford Fusion
The Ford Fusion is a midsize four-door sedan that's available in three trim levels: S, SE and Titanium. There are also the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi (Plug-in Hybrid), which are covered in separate reviews.

The Fusion S and SE come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower and matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. For the SE, there are three additional engine options. A turbocharged 1.6-liter four with 178 hp comes solely with a six-speed manual transmission. A turbocharged 1.5-liter four, also with 178 hp, comes solely with a six-speed automatic. And for maximum performance, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four makes 240 hp and only comes with the six-speed automatic but adds paddle shifters. The Fusion Titanium comes standard with the turbocharged 2.0-liter and an automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, while all-wheel drive is optional for the Titanium.

Standard highlights on the S include air-conditioning, the voice-activated Sync audio/cell phone interface and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and a USB/iPod interface. The SE adds alloy wheels, a power driver seat, a rear seat center armrest and access to additional options, while the Titanium comes with a sport-tuned suspension, keyless ignition/entry, leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear parking sensors/camera, the MyFord Touch electronics interface and an upgraded sound system. Major options include a navigation system and an automated parking system.

In reviews, we've been very impressed by the latest Ford Fusion. The European-flavored driving experience we enjoyed in the previous generation is fully intact, meaning the current Fusion boasts a comfortable ride along with engaging, composed handling. The steering furthers this impression with its sharp, communicative nature. Furthermore, it's hard to go wrong with any of the Fusion's engine choices (not to mention the hybrids), but as expected the turbocharged ones deserve extra credit for their ability to blend spirited performance with impressive fuel efficiency.

Used Ford Fusion Models
The current, third-generation Ford Fusion was introduced for 2013. Compared to the second-generation car, this Fusion boasts more dramatic exterior styling, more fuel-efficient engines and the latest in electronics and features. These Fusions are identical to the latest version with a few minor exceptions. Specifically, the 1.6-liter was the only small turbo engine available and could be had with an automatic transmission. Also, inflatable rear seatbelts, a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats were unavailable.

The second generation of the Ford Fusion was produced from 2010-'12. Compared to the original Fusion, it sported refreshed front and rear styling as well as more powerful engines. Apart from a few minor updates, such as blind-spot mirrors, a manual-shift feature for the six-speed automatic and one-touch up/down front windows, there were no notable changes during its run. As it retained the many attributes of the first Fusion while addressing its few weaknesses, this Fusion stands as one of the top used car picks in the midsize sedan segment.

There were four trim levels -- S, SE, Sport and SEL -- while engine offerings consisted of the base 2.5-liter four (175 hp), an optional 3.0-liter V6 (240 hp) and, for the Sport, a 3.5-liter V6 (263 hp). A six-speed manual transmission could be had on the 2.5, while optional for that engine and standard on the rest was a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive was standard across the board with the exception of the SEL V6 and Sport, which had available all-wheel drive.

Standard feature highlights for the S included 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning and a stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The SE added 17-inch alloys, automatic headlights, a power driver seat and an upgraded audio system. The Sport included sport-tuned suspension and steering, 18-inch wheels, exclusive styling cues, power front seats, leather upholstery and the Sync multimedia voice control interface. The SEL also featured leather seating as well as heated seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. Options (depending on trim) include remote starting, a sunroof, a rearview camera, reverse park assist, a blind spot detection system and a navigation system.

This second-generation Ford Fusion had a nice combination of responsive performance and well-balanced handling and ride dynamics. Inside there was plenty of room, quality materials and handy features. The Sync system was a great feature, allowing easy hands-free operation of cell phones and portable MP3 players. The only notable downside to the car was its V6, which was rather ho-hum in light of other models' V6s that provided quicker acceleration and fuel economy.

The first-generation Ford Fusion was produced for the 2006-'09 model years. Initially offered only with front-wheel drive, the Fusion was offered in S, SE and SEL trim levels. The standard engine was a 160-hp 2.3-liter four-cylinder. When paired with the standard five-speed manual, this engine was peppy enough, but with the more popular optional five-speed automatic, the Fusion struggled to get out of its own way. The SE and SEL could be optioned with a 221-hp 3.0-liter V6 paired to a six-speed automatic, which improved the Fusion's thrust considerably.

However, both these engines were underpowered for the class -- especially the V6 -- and neither was particularly fuel-efficient. Inside, the Fusion had a more cohesive look than older Ford sedans, thanks to its crisp lines and coordinated textures. Build quality was solid and the seats were well-shaped and supportive, even for taller folk. Unfortunately, the quality of some plastics was still a couple steps behind the import-brand competition.

The following year brought changes that included standard front seat airbags, side curtain airbags and an auxiliary audio jack. Options like navigation, satellite radio and all-wheel drive were added to the options sheet, along with more standard equipment on the SE and SEL models. As such, we'd stick with this model year or later. For 2008, Ford's Sync system became available, although it was sullied somewhat by the Fusion's outdated standard stereo head unit. Antilock brakes became standard that year and more optional equipment was added, including the Sport Appearance package that included 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and special trim. For 2009, stability control became optional on all Ford Fusions (we recommend finding one so equipped) and traction control became standard on V6 versions.

User Reviews:

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  Amazing and reliable vehicle - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Emilee - May 31 - 4:21 pm

  Bought this as my first car, still loving it. It is safe, reliable, and cheap. Brakes are great, engine is great, and has a nice look.

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  Like It Sporty - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Tom - May 30 - 9:16 pm

  Best car I ever had. Got the Merlot Red finish, with black cloth seats. The cloth seats are softer than the leather, though the leather ones are better looking. Transmission is smooth, love the added extras like the buttons on the steering wheel that work the cruise control, volume on the radio and the temperature control on the climate control. Other nice features are the autodimming mirror and moon roof. Best of all, the car has great handling on the road, hugging the corners with ease. I did 70 and barely went above 2000 rpms. Nice.

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  Beautiful Rubi Red and Smooth - 2017 Ford Fusion
  By Rubi Red - May 30 - 6:59 am

  Its not too quiet but its quiet enough while driving. Its very smooth on the road and it just makes me feel rich! The rubi red color is so Beautiful. I love the feel of all the buttons on the steering wheel and dash. I love the big screen!

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  ford fusion 2016 - 2016 Ford Fusion
  By Thai Pham - May 27 - 3:38 am

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  Im Impressed! - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Bonny - May 27 - 1:30 am

  I have been driving this car for 6 months and the experience is amazing. It is smooth, classy, and comfy. Anyone I offer a ride to is immediately impressed and pleasantly surprised that it is a Ford. I rode in a 2007 Toyota Camry recently while visiting a friend out of state and my Fusion far surpasses the Camry ride. Both were V6s but there was no comparison. Fusion Rocks! I didnt tell him that...but I was so happy with my decision to buy the Fusion. The spacious interior of the Fusion is also a huge plus that the Camry doesnt come close to providing. Ford did it right this time!

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  Excellent Car - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By fusiongirl - May 20 - 6:13 pm

  After driving a 1995 Dodge Neon until this year (2006), my husband and I were ready to buy a reliable and safe car. The Fusion SE has offered both, with Ford quality. It is very affordable as well. We have really enjoyed having it so far.

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  Great Car - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By HartRW - May 10 - 4:23 am

  We just love our Fusion, ride performance, looks, everything. The first trip we took it on we averaged 29.9 MPG. Our SEL is a V6, but it isnt AWD. The fit and finish is very good, I have found no defects what so ever. Performance is more than adequate. The MPG is better than I expected. The cross traffic warning system is great when backing out of a parking place between two SUVs. We also love the blind spot warning system.

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  Why would you buy a Camry? - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By Mike - April 25 - 8:36 am

  The 2.5L is a great I4. I never feel the need for more power and I still get about 30 mpg on my commute. Love the interior, exterior design, and the sync system. Very quiet. Ive read some reviews claiming there are too many buttons, but personally I like having all the controls at my fingertips. (Its really not hard to figure out what they do.) I test drove a Camry to compare and I cant see any reason to take that over a Fusion.

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  Recent Purchase, Happy with it - 2016 Ford Fusion
  By Bret Hoffman - April 14 - 12:59 pm

  Great car. I get about 21 MPG in the city. Still learning how to use all the technology available, but so far so good. Once you know how to word the commands it the system runs pretty well. A lot of compliments on the cars looks and how smooth the car is when being driven on bumpy roads. I was expecting there to be vision issues, but I havent had any.

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  fusion - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By Mike - April 8 - 5:37 am

  good reliable vehicle